Christianity Quote by Dorothy L. Sayers
““It is arguable that when Humanists, "Shook off," as people say, "the trammels of religion," and discovered things of this world as objects of veneration in their own right... they began to lose the finer appreciation of even the world itself. Thus to the Christian centuries, the flesh was holy (or sacer at least in one sense or the other), and they veiled its awful majesty; to the Humanist centuries it was divine in its own right, and they exhibited it. Now it is the commonplace of the magazine cover. It has lost its numen. So too with the cult of knowledge for its own sake declining from the Revival of Learning to the Brains Trust.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: “The Cult of Knowledge,” 1930s publication
Humanist rejection of religious reverence can strip the sacredness from both the body and knowledge, turning them into mere objects.
In simple terms: Losing reverence makes things feel ordinary.
Key Takeaway
Recognize the wonder in everyday and intellectual pursuits.
Themes
spirituality
humanism
knowledge
materialism
Mood
contemplative
critical
Type
philosophical
cultural critique
When to use this quote
- academic study
- art appreciation
- body awareness
Key Concepts
sacredness
numen
cultural shift
Questions to Reflect On
- How can we balance reverence with critical thought?
- What practices restore awe for the mundane?
A Different Perspective
Overemphasis on rationalism may diminish emotional connection.
![“See that the mind is honest, first; the rest may follow or not as God wills. [That] the fundamental treason to the mind ... is the one fundamental treason which the scholar's mind must not allow is the bond uniting all the Oxford people in the last resort.” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c74/dorothy-l-sayers-738_academia_see-that-the-mind-is-honest-first-the-re_16293.jpg)
![“Perhaps [the critics are right and] the drama is played out now and Jesus is safely dead and buried. Perhaps. It is ironical and entertaining to consider that at least once in the world's history those words might have been said with complete conviction, and that was on the eve of the Resurrection.” quote by Dorothy L. Sayers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/467/dorothy-l-sayers-738_buried_perhaps-the-critics-are-right-and-the-dr_43252.jpg)
